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      10-09-2018, 10:52 PM   #1
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Approved/recommended oils

Is there a list of BMW approved oils for my 2015 335xi? I already have a few approved oil filters so don't want a "kit".
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      10-10-2018, 08:53 AM   #2
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Oil companies qualify their oils to specifications the car manufacturers set.
Car companies do not have lists of approved oil in the US. The Maguson-Moss Act stopped that because car companies were channeling customers to their products where other products met the specs.
Amsoil has two European specification oils for the 2015 335xi with the N55 engine. Their online application guide shows a 0W-40 and a 5W-40 oil. These oils meet BMW LL-01. See:
https://www.amsoil.com/lookup/auto-a...rbo/us-volume/
The full specs can be seen/downloaded from links on there.
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      10-10-2018, 09:31 AM   #3
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This is an old list I came across, but should still be valid.

BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market:
  • Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30
  • Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
  • Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30
  • Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30

I have been using the Castrol Euro Formula 0W-30 in a few different cars for a few years and plan to keep using it in my 335i.

Last edited by BReardon58; 10-10-2018 at 09:33 AM.. Reason: typo
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      10-10-2018, 10:36 AM   #4
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How about shell rotella t6 or Delo xsp 5-40 oil? Can we run them?
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      10-10-2018, 05:47 PM   #5
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I use Castrol Edge 0W-40 European Formula. LL-01 certified and available for relatively cheap at Walmart. One thing I noticed last time though is the 5qt jug is produced in Belgium while the single quarts are made in Germany.
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      10-10-2018, 11:57 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jh_f30 View Post
I use Castrol Edge 0W-40 European Formula. LL-01 certified and available for relatively cheap at Walmart. One thing I noticed last time though is the 5qt jug is produced in Belgium while the single quarts are made in Germany.
X2, just bought that same combo and noticed the same. Wouldnt worry about it though.
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      10-11-2018, 01:10 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BReardon58 View Post
This is an old list I came across, but should still be valid.

BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market:
  • Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30
  • Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
  • Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30
  • Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30

I have been using the Castrol Euro Formula 0W-30 in a few different cars for a few years and plan to keep using it in my 335i.
the M1 is no longer approved (at least it doesn't say so on the back of the jug anymore =[ )

That being said, I use the Castrol Euro 0W40 found online at Walmart. ~$25 for a 5 qt jug.
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      10-11-2018, 03:47 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bheng89 View Post
the M1 is no longer approved (at least it doesn't say so on the back of the jug anymore =[ )

That being said, I use the Castrol Euro 0W40 found online at Walmart. ~$25 for a 5 qt jug.
Good catch, Mobil 1 even says so on their site:
Based on what you've told us, your vehicle manufacturer recommends a 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30 or 5W-40 viscosity and oil that meets BMW Longlife-01. We currently do not offer any motor oils in the United States that meet these specifications.
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      10-11-2018, 04:34 PM   #9
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In case you haven't noticed BMW has the habit of changing their approved oil designations pretty much in concert with when they change their supplier. I wouldn't be too concerned about using an LL-01 oil, especially if changing it more often than BMW recommends. If you can find it at a good price then why not, but none of the major brands are going to be bad.
I use Liqui Moly Molygen myself.
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      10-11-2018, 06:08 PM   #10
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Agreed with Billfitz.

Now that I am changing my own oil... if I couldn't find an LL01 for relatively cheap compared the dealer pricing, I would have just gone with M1 every 5k
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      10-12-2018, 03:32 PM   #11
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Liqui Moly full synthetic has BMW-LL98, which is pre LL01 approval. I used it and had no problems for years and years. That or Castrol as others have said. Both are great IMO.
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      10-12-2018, 04:03 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobiam View Post
Is there a list of BMW approved oils for my 2015 335xi? I already have a few approved oil filters so don't want a "kit".
Any LL01 or LL01FE. Easy-pease

Retail basically it's Castrol 0w40 or BMW (dealer) 0w30. BMW dealer oil is very high quality. Some Euro shops might sell LubroMoly, Redline, Rowe, Pentosin, or Ravenol.

Now if you like to change your oil more often then you could look at LL04.
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      10-12-2018, 04:05 PM   #13
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Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40 is the best combination of cost and performance on the market. Change every 5k and it cant be beat.
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      10-12-2018, 04:20 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Any LL01 or LL01FE. Easy-pease

Retail basically it's Castrol 0w40 or BMW (dealer) 0w30. BMW dealer oil is very high quality. Some Euro shops might sell LubroMoly, Redline, Rowe, Pentosin, or Ravenol.

Now if you like to change your oil more often then you could look at LL04.
LL04 is not recommended by BMW for US gasoline with high sulfur content(even with latest reduced average ppm for US gasoline).
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      10-12-2018, 04:47 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bavarianride View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Any LL01 or LL01FE. Easy-pease

Retail basically it's Castrol 0w40 or BMW (dealer) 0w30. BMW dealer oil is very high quality. Some Euro shops might sell LubroMoly, Redline, Rowe, Pentosin, or Ravenol.

Now if you like to change your oil more often then you could look at LL04.
LL04 is not recommended by BMW for US gasoline with high sulfur content(even with latest reduced average ppm for US gasoline).
Which is why I prefaced with more frequent oil changes. Plus US moved to 10-50ppm gas. LL04 is fine for 5k mile OCI.
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      10-12-2018, 08:03 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
Which is why I prefaced with more frequent oil changes. Plus US moved to 10-50ppm gas. LL04 is fine for 5k mile OCI.
Euro spec should be 10ppm max, while US spec is 10ppm average and 50ppm max, so technically US spec is still 5x worse than Euro in terms of sulfur content.

In our state the turbo is covered by emission warranty for 15 years and 150000 miles, so the low-SAPS LL04 may not provide too much extra benefits.
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      10-24-2018, 11:44 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 52172 View Post
How about shell rotella t6 or Delo xsp 5-40 oil? Can we run them?
I’m not sure about Delo, but isn’t Rotella T6 for Diesel engines?
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      10-25-2018, 07:41 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IraHayes View Post
I’m not sure about Delo, but isn’t Rotella T6 for Diesel engines?
Just because it’s designed for a diesel doesn’t mean we can’t run it. Someone just sent the t6 out for analysis and results came back great. The diesel oil may even have better protection.
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      10-25-2018, 12:58 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BReardon58 View Post

BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market:
  • Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30
  • Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
  • Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30
  • Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30
Here's proof of my Pennzoil 5W-40 with BMW-LL01 that I just put into my car:




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      10-25-2018, 01:30 PM   #20
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I get all panicked about putting the right oil in the car.....and then I think.....for many years and many cars I just bought the multi weight oil that was the best price and none of those cars ever had an oil related engine failure or significantly increased oil consumption over their life. I still panic over this but I also think we're being duped!!! It was only a few years ago that we didn't even know what synthetic oil was!
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      10-25-2018, 02:00 PM   #21
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I started using Mobil 1 in 1974.
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      10-25-2018, 03:08 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanity View Post
Here's proof of my Pennzoil 5W-40 with BMW-LL01 that I just put into my car:




Interesting... sold at Walmart?
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